Brain Abscess Can Be a Catastrophic Complication Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Case Report

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)-associated risks mainly depend on the proximity of the sinuses to the orbit and anterior skull base. Skull base injuries are usually associated with dural tears and cerebrospinal fluidleaks, which are the leading causes of ascending meningitis and even brain abscesses. A 40-year-old man has a headache that came on suddenly and is an extremely painful, continuous headache accompanied by intermittent fatigue and blurred vision. The patient underwent ESS for chronic sinusitis 2 weeks ago at another hospital. Magnetic resonance examination of the brain depicted abnormal hyperintensity within the left frontal lobe. These findings suggested the diagnosis of brain abscesses. The patient received an antibacterial treatment for 2 months. Finally, the patient recovered well. Keywords: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, chronic rhinosinusitis, intraoperative complications, brain abscess